The problem with the theories in this book is that they discount the reality, especially in the 19th century and prior, that there can be a LACK of nationalism on the part of an ethnic group. The Masurians were loosely affiliated to one another, neither like the Prussian German state nor the Polish nation during its partition period of the 19th century. The Masurians weren't united as a nation, didn't see themselves as aligned with either of the neighboring nations, and only did so as they were forced to lean one way or the other by one of the neighboring entities. The plebiscyt of 1920, as often referred to in the book, reflected more the constant assertiveness, or lack thereof, over Masuria by the neighboring nations over the prior century and even centuries.The issue of Masurian identity is so much more complicated than the couple of questions, or deductions, put forth by the author.